Mississippi State defensive back Jamal Peters (2) reaches up and intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo (8) in the end zone in the first half of the Egg Bowl Saturday in Oxford.(Photo11: Rogelio V. Solis, AP)

STARKVILLE – Watching just a couple minutes of cornerback drills at Mississippi State training camp might leave you wondering if Terrell Buckley is thoroughly displeased with the progress of his players.

“Run out of there, you’re coasting!” the position coach yells.

“You need to pay attention!”

“Stay INSIDE the red line,” Buckley screams as he shakes his head.

But just two hours after being perhaps the most frustrated coach at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex, Buckley says his guys might be the best in the nation.

“I wouldn’t choose any other corner group in the country,” he said.

Buckley’s exasperation on the field is a product of his relentless desire to succeed. He’s never satisfied. That attitude stems from his own playing career which took off in the early 1990s at Florida State. He left FSU as the program’s all-time leader in interceptions with 21. His No. 27 is retired in Tallahassee. Only nine Seminoles players in their storied history have had that honor.

He went on to grab 50 more interceptions in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Buckley knows what it takes to play corner at the highest level. He did it collegiately for three seasons then professionally for 14 more. His coaching career has now spanned a decade, and to nobody’s surprise, he’s acquiring accolades as a teacher too.

According to multiple reports, Mississippi State will hire Terrell Buckley as its safeties coach.(Photo11: Twitter.)

Buckley has coached 13 players who have signed professional contracts, Mississippi State’s own Lashard Durr being the most recent. Through his tough coaching style, Buckley can increase that number with this current batch of Bulldog corners.

Jamal Peters and Chris Rayford could add to the total with stellar senior seasons. Peters is slated to blow by his career starts sum of three, but Rayford’s future is uncertain. He’s been working with the safeties during training camp because defensive coordinator Bob Shoop thinks that he’s a more natural fit back there.

Rayford, who has started six games at corner for MSU, could switch positions all season. Buckley is excited by that. He tells his players all the time that football IQ needs to be a major priority. He said being a great player is about much more than being a “super athlete” – it’s about knowing what to do and where to go on the field when faced with a variety of scenarios.

“It’s like any business you work in,” Buckley said. “If you are fundamentally sound, you have a chance to learn anything.”

Buckley helped Peters with the reverse version of the transition Rayford is currently testing. In 2016, Peters moved from safety to corner to fill a void left by injury. Peters said making the move was hard and at times he didn’t think he could do it. Buckley always insisted that he could. He pushed Peters during that summer to learn the ins and outs of being a corner. Peters listened to him and hasn’t looked back.

“Now I’m looking forward to being one of the top corners in the SEC,” Peters said. “It’s been a long road, but now it’s just like, ‘Wow, I’m here.’”

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Teammates congratulate White team member's Jamal Peters (2) after he intercepted a pass. Mississippi State conducted its Maroon & White Spring Game for football on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Photo by Keith Warren(Photo11: Keith Warren, Keith Warren)

For Rayford, that road is just beginning. And even though being a safety means Rayford reports directly to Shoop, he knows he can call on Buckley for anything from important advice to a simple pick-me-up. Both Rayford and Peters called Buckley a “father figure.” He’s always there when they need him.

Above all, though, Buckley is still their coach. And even when he seems like the most frustrated guy on the field – barking out orders or sighing in shame – Buckley’s players are always grateful. They’re always learning.

“I know that he’s going to coach us hard because he expects so much out of us,” Rayford said. “He sees the potential in us.”